Ride Public Transportation for Free this Monday!

Monday is a "Spare the Air Day"!

You can ride BART, the busses or the ferrys for free all day.

Click here to learn more.

There may be many more "Spare the Air Days", but this may be the last time this year that public transportation is free.

Get out and enjoy it!

I suggest a ferry ride to San Francisco. Maybe another ferry to Sausalito? If you see me, wave. I'll be riding my bicycle

Photos from the 1st Annual Picnic and BBQ at Redwood Park

Click here to see yourself at the 1st Annual Picnic and BBQ in Redwood Park!

Update on Oaxaca

Here is an idiom for the situation in Oaxaca:

"It's not over until the fat lady sings."

Check out this link.

And another link.

Hello, Classmates

I just joined the blog.

I will write about my plans for Memorial Day tonight.

Viva Salsa!

Read about the Bay Area salsa scene in this San Francisco Chronicle article.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Day Without an Immigrant

Teacher Jean and I joined the Day Without an Immigrant march in San Francisco.

Click here to see pictures of the march.

What do you think about today's Day Without an Immigrants events?

Please post your thoughts on the blog.

See you soon! 

Rebuilding Chinatown after the !906 Quake

Check out this interesting article about rebuilding Chinatown (San Francisco) after the 1906 earthquake. It was only a few years later that the immigration station on Angel Island opened.

You can read the article and then click on the "listen" at the top to hear it. The photos are also interesting.

Leave a comment (below) if you think I sould post more articles for you and your classmates to explore.

Angel Island Photos

Click here to see our Angel Island Photos.

http://flickr.com/photos/muypadre/sets/72057594104871977/

Click on "View as Slideshow" to watch our trip from beginning to end.

Don't forget to write a story about our field trip!

Thanks

You did the walk, now let's read the story

If you post a story about our field trip, I'll give you a disk of photographs!

What a deal!

Cafe Trieste

Some of us walked up to the Cafe Trieste in North Beach.

You may find this story in Saturday's San Francisco Chronicle interesting. 

Angel Island FAQ

Where do we meet on Thursday Morning?

Meet in Room101 or at the Lake Merritt BART station

What time do we meet on Thursday morning?

Meet at 7:45 in Room 101. We will leave promptly at 7:55 to walk to the Lake Merritt BART station.

You can also meet us at the Lake Merritt BART station at 8:25.

How much money should I bring?

Bring between $20 and $25 for transportation.

BART costs $2.75 each way.

The Angel Island Ferry group rate is $13.50.

The San Francisco to Oakland Ferry (optional at 5:20 p.m.) costs $5.50.

Bring extra money if you plan on buying snacks or drinks.

Who will buy our tickets?

You will. Each student will buy their own ticket.

Please bring exact change (or at least crisp dollar bills) for the BART ticket. We won’t have a lot of time to spend buying tickets at the Lake Merritt BART station.

We will purchase the Angel Island Ferry tickets at Pier 41.

What kind of weather do we expect?

Check with weather.com. The prediction is for partially cloudy with a high of 61 degrees. This is perfect weather for hiking, but be prepared for all weather conditions.

What clothes should I wear?

Be prepared for all kinds of weather. It may be windy. If you climb to the top of Mt. Livermore (the highest point of the island) you may feel warm. Dress in layers so that you can adjust your clothing to the conditions. I usually carry a couple of sweaters and a light jacket. Don’t forget a hat if you need protection from the sun.

Dress casually and wear comfortable shoes. We will be walking quite a bit.

What else can I bring?

Bring lunch for yourself and some snack or fruit to share with your classmates.

Bring a bottle of water, juice or soda.

Don’t bring alcohol or illegal substances.

Bring sunscreen and a hat if you, like me, need protection from the sun.

Bring a camera if you have one. Don’t forget spare batteries, etc.

Bring a notebook and pencil. We will be talking about everything we see. This could be an excellent opportunity to expand your vocabulary.

Bring a backpack to carry all of the above.

What will we do on the island?

Speak English, of course.

We will walk around the eastern end of the island and look at Chinese Cove where the Chinese immigrants were detained. I hope a park ranger or volunteer will give a talk.

We’ll eat lunch together. After that, students can choose how to spend their time. Some may want to explore the shore. Others may choose to go for a walk or climb Mr. Livermore. Some may just want to relax and talk.

Everyone should meet back at the dock by 3:20.

The ferry departs for San Francisco promptly at 3:40.

When does the field trip end?

Officially, the field trip ends at 4:00 p.m. on our return to Pier 41 in San Francisco. Students are free to leave from there. The BART runs a regular schedule from the Embarcadero to Oakland.

Unofficially, I will stay and wait for the Oakland ferry that leaves Pier 41 at 5:20. This will be a good time to talk casually or grab a bite to eat. The ferry (fare is $5.50) takes about an hour to reach Jack London Square in Oakland. We’ll (several students have decided on this option) take a bus back to Neighborhood Centers School.

Can I bring a relative or a friend?

Yes, if they can walk, they are welcome, but please tell me who you are bringing by Wednesday.

Sun Shines on Sunday

The sun shone.

As you can see, the sun shone on the Golden Gate Bridge, on Angel Island and on my head.

If you like, I can show you more photos on Monday.

Vilay's Story

When I was seven years old, I went swimming. The weather was windy and cloudy. I didn't know how to swim so I stayed near the shore. I tried to swim for about 15 mninutes. A piece of glass cut my foot. It hurt and bled. I put a leaf on my cut. The bleeding stopped. I went to my house.

My mother was very angry at me. She took me to the hospital. I told my mom that I would never go to the Mekong River again.

Who wrote "Hero"?

Click here to learn more about the author of "Hero".

Read some of his poems.

Learn CPR. Save a life!

Check out these news stories:

Girl saves mom with CPR

Singer uses Heimlich Maneuver to Save Stage Hand

Bring your pet to school!

This is Tran's dog, Storm.

Bring a picture of your pet to class. We'll make him (or her) famous.
We will add your pet to our blog. 

Hello all my room!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi anyone!! Do you remember me? I hope YES!!! Especially you, Teacher Richard. I am afraid, because I did not go to school for around 7 days because I am in LA. But I studied a lot about CPR and I watched the Academy Awards. It was very fantastic, I liked it too much, but the thing that I liked more than nothing, was:" The Best Motion Picture" of Paul Haggis and Cathy Schulman in CRASH. Talking about CPR, it is very important when we want to save lifes, and you have to call 911 if the victim do not response. We have to remember exercise "SOLID COMMON SENSE" when someone needs CPR help. There are 3 kinds of CPR: Adul CPR, Child CPR, and Infant CPR. Anyway, I learned a lot about it, and I will be in school next week teacher, because I want to go to the trip too. Don't forget me please!!! Wait for me!!! O.K. I love you everybody and pay attention to the teacher because he is "SO GREAT". I"ll see you soon.

Help Plan Our Field Trip

We are planning a trip to Angel Island on March 30th.

Please help with the planning!


How can we get to Angel Island?

What are the costs?

When will we have to leave and what time will we return? Check the schedules.

What kind of weather do you expect on March 30?

What should we bring with us?

Will we have to walk far?

What will we do on Angel Island?

Here are some resources to help answer these questions.

BART
Angel Island Ferry
San Francisco Ferry
San Francisco Transit Guide

Information about Angel Island
Angel Island Immigration Foundation
Angel Island State Park
Angel Island Tours
Angel Island Immigrant Journeys of Asian Americans
Angel Island Poetry
More about Angel Island Poetry

Can you answer these CPR questions?

How CPR Works

What happens when a person experiences cardiac arrest?

How effective is CPR?

What does CPR mean?

When was CPR invented?

Where does the oxygen we breathe go?

When to Dial 911

What may be the most important step that you can take to save a life?

If two people are present and CPR is needed, what should they do?

If you are the only one present and CPR is needed, what should you do?

What should we always do when faced with an emergency situation?

What should you be prepared to tell the 911 operator?

Adult CPR

According to the American Heart Association, Adult CPR should be performed on anyone over what age?

What is responsiveness?

What should you do before beginning any rescue effort?

When shouldn’t you shake the victim?

What should you do if the victim does not respond to gentle shaking and shouting?

Adult CPR Airway

What does the “A” in “ABC” mean?

What do you need to do if the victim is unconscious and unresponsive?

How do you check to see if the victim is breathing?

What is the most common airway obstruction in an unconscious victim?

How can you clear the airway of an unconscious victim when the tongue is blocking it?

Adult CPR Breathing

What does the “B” in breathing stand for?

How do you prepare to give rescue breathing?

What can happen if you over-inflate the victim’s lungs?

What should you do if the victim vomits?

How many breaths should you give?

What should you do after you give the first two breaths?

What should you do if the victim does not begin breathing, coughing or moving?

Adult CPR Circulation

What does the “C” stand for in “ABC”?

How can you determine if the victim’s heart is beating?

Where is the carotid artery?

What is a pulse?

What will you have to do if there is no pulse?

Adult CPR Compressions

Why is correct hand placement very important when performing chest compressions?

If you hear a cracking sound, should you stop performing chest compressions?

How many times should you compress before giving two more breaths?

How fast should you compress the victim’s chest?

Should you check the victim’s pulse again?

How long should you continue if there is no pulse?

What should you do if the victim has a pulse but is not breathing?